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Ohio judge rules in favor of OU in fraternity hazing death case
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Ohio judge rules in favor of OU in fraternity hazing death case

A Franklin County, Ohio, judge ruled Thursday that Ohio University (OU) cannot be held liable for the hazing death of Collin Wiant at the Sigma Pi fraternity in 2018.

Wiant, who was 18 when he died on Nov. 12, 2018, was killed in a Sigma Pi hazing ritual, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The victim was forced to inhale nitrous oxide at the off-campus Sigma Pi house by the other fraternity members. He was also given drugs and alcohol throughout the process. Wiant collapsed and the other fraternity members waited nine minutes before calling for help.

Several Sigma Pi members have pleaded guilty to charges related to Wiant’s death, WYSO reports. Fraternity brothers were charged with or pleaded guilty to a wide variety of crimes, including drug trafficking, involuntary manslaughter, hazing, failure to comply with underage drinking laws, reckless homicide, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide. Among the members who pleaded guilty are:

  • Joshua Thomas Androsac
  • Saxon Angell-Perez
  • Dominic A. Figliola
  • Corbin Michael Gustafson
  • Zachary Herskovitz
  • Elias Robert Wahib
  • Stephen Brent Lewis
  • James Dyland Wanke
  • Rex Elliott

Sigma Pi was expelled from Ohio University in the spring of 2019 for hazing and other violations.

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Ohio judge rules in favor of OU in fraternity hazing death case

Wiant’s parents, Kathleen and Wade Wiant, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OU in 2021, alleging that the university was responsible for his death. However, earlier this year, OU filed a motion for summary judgment, which was granted.

Kathleen and Wade Wiant said they would appeal the ruling.

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